The Kallang River which meanders through the area is famous for its water sports. The source of the river is the Lower Pierce Reservoir, and at more than 10 kilometres, it is the longest river in Singapore.

Kallang is an old Malay reference to the orang laut (people of the sea), called orang biduanda kallang, who lived in the vicinity of the Kallang River and Singapore River. At the time of Raffles' landing in Singapore in 1819, there were about 500 orang biduanda kallang. In 1824, the Temenggung moved the orang kallang to the Pulai River in Johor. They consisted of about 100 families, but in 1847 most of them died of a smallpox epidemic. By 1848, the orang kallang were virtually extinct.

There are other possible meanings for this particular place name. Kallang may also be a corruption of the Malay word kilang, meaning "mill" or factory". There were saw mills and rice mills here. Another explanation for the origin of Kallang is that it is derived from galang, which means "to put a boat on wooden stocks or rollers", an appropriate term as the Kallang area straddles both sides of the Kallang River.

Kallang is home to many light industrial estates, such as pipe makers, garment factories. Many heavy industry factories have been relocated away from this area, to promote residential use. Offices are often situated in Kallang for companies unwilling to pay for the high rent in the nearby Central Area, Singapore's central business district west of Kallang.

The housing estates, constructed by the Housing Development Board (HDB) in Kallang were built in the 1970s and 1980s. Some blocks are planned to be reconstructed under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to redevelop the area, whose demographics are dominated by the middle-aged. New blocks which are 30 stories high are now prominent in the skyline of the area, with more being planned to be built under the new HDB construction policy. A notable major redevelopment is underway in the Old Airport estate, where many of the low-rise blocks have been demolished.

Singapore Sports Hub which was opened in April is here

The Kallang Cricket Ground is another sporting venue located in the district, and has played host to several One Day Internationalcricket matches. In more recent times however, it is mainly used to host domestic competitions, and minor international matches, such as those between Singapore and Malaysia.

One landmark in Kallang was the large blue tubular container that marked the location of the Kallang Gasworks. It was completed in 1862, when the piped gas supply was turned on in Singapore. It ceased production in 1997, and Senoko Gasworks took over providing gas. The place has been marked as a historic site by the National Heritage Board. Only Gasholder No. 3, with its structural columns, has been preserved.[1][2]

Kallang Basin, showing Singapore Indoor Stadium to the left, the condominiums of Tanjong Rhu in the background, and Nicoll Highway in the foreground.

Kallang was home to Singapore's first airport, opened on 12 June 1937 by Sir Shenton Thomas, the then Governor of Singapore. The airport had the advantages of combined facilities for both land and marine aircraft. Due to an increase in demand the Singapore International Airport was built in Paya Lebar. Kallang Airport ceased operations during the mid-1950s. The airport control building was eventually converted into the People's Association of Singapore HQ on 1 July 1960 and the surrounding area has since been redeveloped.

Rochor region of Kallang Planning Area, showing Crawford Court Housing Estate in the foreground, Kallang Basin and the condominiums of Tanjong Rhu in the background, Kallang River and Rochor River on the left, Marina Centre on the right, and the Central Business District to the far right.